Machine Learning Engineer

Job Title: Senior Machine Learning Engineer – ResearchLocation: Santa Monica, CA or Seattle, WA (4 days/week onsite – no remote)Employment Type: 24-month contractPay Rate: $97/hourOverviewA large-scale digital advertising technology organization is seeking a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to join its AI/ML research team. This group is responsible for building and evolving high-performance, distributed, microservice-based advertising platforms that support video and digital media experiences at scale.The team’s mission is to advance machine learning and AI capabilities across advertising systems by delivering scalable, high-impact solutions that improve ad decisioning, forecasting, experimentation, and overall ad experience. This role is well suited for an experienced ML engineer who enjoys working on complex problems, influencing technical direction, and collaborating across engineering, product, and data science teams.Key ResponsibilitiesApply state-of-the-art machine learning and AI techniques across advertising domains such as forecasting, targeting, pacing, pricing, ad experience, and delivery optimizationDesign, prototype, and deploy novel ML solutions to complex, real-world problems with rapid iteration cyclesArchitect, build, and scale production-ready ML systems that support core platform capabilitiesPromote engineering best practices related to code quality, system design, testing, and operational reliabilityMentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of technical excellence and continuous learningRequired QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)3+ years of hands-on experience building and deploying large-scale machine learning systemsStrong foundation in machine learning, statistics, mathematics, and numerical optimizationProficiency in Python (primary), with working knowledge of Java and SQLSolid understanding of algorithms and data structuresExperience with ML frameworks and libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Hugging FaceHands-on experience with deep learning models, including sequence-based and recurrent architecturesExperience working with transformer models (e.g., BERT-like, GPT-like, vision transformers)Knowledge of multimodal embeddings spanning text, image, audio, and structured dataExperience with large language models (e.g., GPT-style, Claude-style, Llama-style models)Familiarity with LLM evaluation techniques and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architecturesStrong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholdersProven ability to succeed in a fast-paced, data-driven, collaborative environmentPreferred Qualifications (Nice to Have)Master’s or PhD in Computer Science or a related fieldExperience in digital advertising, video advertising, or digital marketing platformsExposure to Databricks and/or AWS SageMaker